Fossils and the Earth Long Ago

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What are fossils?

Back

Fossils are the remains or traces of plants and animals that lived a long time ago.

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What do paleontologists study?

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Paleontologists study fossils to learn about ancient life and how the Earth has changed.

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What is sedimentary rock?

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Sedimentary rock is rock made from layers of mud and sand.

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What does the word 'past' mean?

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The word 'past' means all of the time before now.

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Why do we find fish fossils on mountains?

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We find fish fossils on mountains because that area was once under water.

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What can fossils tell us about the Earth?

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Fossils can tell us how the Earth has changed over time and what kinds of animals and plants lived in the past.

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What is the main idea of studying fossils?

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The main idea of studying fossils is to understand the history of life on Earth.

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What do layers of rock represent?

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Layers of rock represent different periods of time in Earth's history.

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How do fossils form?

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Fossils form when plants or animals are buried by sediment and over time, the sediment hardens into rock.

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What is a paleontologist?

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A paleontologist is a scientist who studies fossils.